Bulletin #18

I am a student of Catholic Faith, a life-long learner, and a well rounded personwho is respectful of our world and all of its cultures.

-St.Perpetua's School Wide Learning Expectations (SLE's)

Bulletin #18 12/7/16

Many thanks to Nicole Damhesel and Kelly Carlson and their cadre of elves who transformed our hallways to create Peppermint Shoppe. Last Saturday morning, the school was buzzing with excitement as our elves and shoppers learned the true meaning of Christmas! Children chose gifts to give to loved ones and had them wrapped and ready to place under the Christmas tree.

This event is one of my favorites of the holiday season ~ the our older students serve as elves, Santa spreads good cheer and candy canes, and parents gather at the café while the children shop. Monette Meo and her helpers were busy with Day-2 of the Christmas Boutique, and all proceeds from those sales go directly back to our Garden of Learning program. Thank you to all who volunteered to make this event so successful!

We hope you will be able to join us tomorrow at 8:30 am for Mass as our Kindergarten and TK students help us celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Next Friday, before we depart for Christmas vacation, we will gather for our traditional Christmas Sharing. Each class has been preparing a song to share with you and our 2nd graders will be leading our Advent prayer service. Students may come to school in "Fancy Free Dress" following all the dress code guidelines in the parent handbook.

There are a few more days to participate in our Annual Tuition Assistance Fund. This is an excellent opportunity to make a tax deductible donation prior to the end of 2016. Your support of prayer is also greatly appreciated. Currently, the 8th grade class is in the lead with 29% participation. As a school community, we are at 20% of our goal. Thank you so very much to those families that have already participated to this worthy cause.

Saturday, December 10, is the last day to order Scrip for the holidays and the end of our commitment tracking period for 2016. There is limited selection of gift cards available in the school office, or you may order online at www.shopwithscrip.com.

Congratulations to Sabrina and David Hunter, and welcome to our newest Perpetuan, Elizabeth Ann Hunter, born November 21st.Big brothers David (K) and William are so excited!

Carpool Safety

Carpoolworks safely and quickly when a student exits from the right side of the car once thecarpoolline comes to a stop and the cars are inside the metal barrier area. Students are to exit the car and walk to their classroom line up area.

Please do not park on the lower lot in front of the church and walk through the carpool line as it is very dangerous. Students should never exit on the left side of the car and parents should not get out the car.If your child is not comfortable independently getting out in thecarpoolline at any point in the barrier area, please park in the upper lot and walk downfor drop-off and pick-up.

Scrip Purchases

Our school community works diligently to generate Scrip profit.We are asking that purchases be paid by check or cash whenever possible to avoid credit card fees.

School Uniform

Now that the weather has turned cold, please make sure that your student has the appropriate school uniform outerwear (fleece/sweatshirt/jacket) to wear while in the classroom. Non-uniform jackets can be worn outside for recess and lunch.

Georgeous Succulents for Sale

We have two gorgeous potted succulents for sale, designed by Jennifer Buckley and Heather Lowry for our Ladies Night Out fundraiser. They make an incredible gift! Stop by the office to take a look before they are gone. All proceeds go to St. Perpetua!

We are still taking donations, but time is running out to support the10thAnnual Tuition Assistance Fundcampaign(Formerly the Annual Fund). Currently we are at 20% of our goal. 100% of donationscollected are designated to supportSt. Perpetua tuition assistance. You should have receivedthe annual letter and donation form in your mail. Extra copies are available in the office. Your participation, whether through prayer or donation, will be truly appreciated by our school community family.

"To change the world, we must be good to those who cannot repay us."

Pope Francis

Mission Effectiveness

Christmas OutreachhProgramsristmas Outreach

We sponsor two Christmas Outreach programs during the month of December.

Samaritan House - wrapped items due byDecember 14.

This is a day care for inner city youth, ages 3 yrs through 14 years. All participation is voluntary but we hope you can help in some way. We have ornaments on our Christmas Giving Tree in the office to be taken home and attached to the gifts that you purchase and wrap for a needy child(ren). Please also include the age of the child the gift is intended for. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

We are also embarking on a 'Holiday Challenge' for three food items that the Monument Crisis Center's pantry always needs. If each family can donate cannedtuna, cup 'o noodles and peanut butter, three of their most needed items, then we will be sharing the spirit of the season with families truly in need.There is no limit to the number of items you can donate, so please be as generous as possible.Items will be collected through December 14.

December Enrichment Events funded by SEEDs

1st Grade: LPIE "Tools of Science" (on-site instruction)

3rd Grade: LPIE "Motion and Center of Balance" (on-site instruction)

8th Grade: Field trip to Lesher Center for the Arts ("A Christmas Carol")

Sharing Christmas Cheer!

TK and 3rds graders caroling at Moraga Royale

Cafe Perpetua

Thank you to everyone who helped make Cafe Perpetua's Christmas Boutique such a huge success! Your patronage was greatly appreciated, and we are beyond belief grateful for your support of the Garden of Learning's biggest fundraiser!

Please join us this Friday for the last cafe` of 2016! We still have some wonderful gift items for sale. We look forward to seeing you on Friday!

Love, Monette Meo

Panther House

Dear Parents,

Christmas Cookie Decorating Workshop

We have 5 spots left for NEXT Thursday's Cookie Decorating workshop.

Thursday, Dec 15, from 3:30 - 4:30 $15 per child

Christmas Party

On Wednesday Dec 14, Panther House will have a Christmas party! We'll snack on Christmas cookies, peppermint cocoa and eggnog. Then we'll play Christmas bingo, snowball toss, snowman bowling and more. Open to all children attending the 12/14 after-school session.

growing closer to God and becoming the best of themselves, every single day.

Please consider donating to our Teacher/Staff

Christmas Fund of 2016

So we, as parents, can go beyond in appreciation for them.

*each teacher/staff will receive a cash gift and a letter including the names of all participating families.

Please consider contributing as a group gift of appreciation

*Checks (made out to St. Perpetua) or Cash

can be brought to office attention Rene O'Neill

Write Teacher Christmas Fund on memo or envelope

Deadline 12/9/2016

Library News

Avoid Winter Blues with Reading to Succeed Challenge

"We're Bored!"Are you worried about hearing those words during the long winter break? The school library has a solution for you. Read!

Simply download the Read to Succeed reading log and enter six (6) hours of reading. Return the completed reading log to Mrs. Hinton when school resumes, no later than January 25th.We are striving for 100% participation of students in grades K - 6.Classes with 100% participation will earn a class reward and each K-6 student who turns in the reading log will earn a free ticket to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Join in the boredom-buster and Read to Succeed!

Our Annual Dinner Dance & Auction is March 25, 2017.We are already starting to gather the components for an array of fabulous gift baskets for our auction.The Auction Committee has put together a list Scrip cards that are needed for the baskets.Please consider making an auction donation of Scrip cards individually or as a parent group.It's a win-win ~ you contribute to the success of our auction and you also earn profit for your Scrip obligation!Clickhere for a list of suggested Scrip card/auction basket donations.

Science Fair Judges Needed!

St. Perpetua's junior high students are hard at work experimenting for their science fair projects. We need volunteers to judge these students from7:40-11:30onJanuary 23-26, interested people can sign up for just one time slot or multiple! Those who are interested should have a science background and/or work in a scientific field and should not be related to a child in the class presenting.

If you, or someone you know, may be interested, please email Natalie Deininger atndeininger@csdo.org. Thank you!

Parent Volunteer Opportunities

Need Volunteer Hours?Double Volunteer hours?

Science Night needs volunteers for our January 26 event.You can sign up on your classroom's room parent sign up or email Anne Marie Moggan. Science Night requires 70 parent volunteers so your help is hugely appreciated! Opportunities for set up, event help, and clean-up at the end of the evening.Clean-up crew gets double hours!Emailamoggan100@gmail.com.

As a reminder, youcannot volunteerfor any school or class activities (including yard duty)until your are placed on the "all cleared" list by completing three items for the office.Clickherefor information on LiveScan fingerprinting, Safe Environment Training, and TB Clearance.

Yard Duty

Each family has received an email to sign up for yard duty shifts on Sign-Up Genius.

If you would like tobe placed on the Yard Duty Sub list, contact the office and your name will be added to the list.You must be an 'All Clear' volunteer to be a substitute.

St. Perpetua Parish

-TheTimely Perpetuanis a monthly e-newsletter that keeps you informed about the many things happening at St. Perpetua. If you don't receive it please visit the Parish websiteand click on "Join Our Mailing List."

Special Intentions

We remember those in need of our prayers:

Eveline Adhiyasa, Kyle Jones' grandmother, who is ill

Rita Jurin, Lauren Puhlmann's grandmother who is ill

members of our parent and alumni community going through medical treatment

We remember those who have died:

Margaret Mary Jones Johnson, grandmother of Olivia and Rhys Roberts

If you would like an entry to go in the bulletin, please email it to Kim Fogarty, Administrative Assistant byTuesdayof each week: kfogarty@csdo.org